![Agarkar breaks silence on Kohli's return [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1780734545382_AgarkarbreakssilenceonKohli'sreturn.jpg?type=hq)
Agarkar breaks silence on Kohli's return [Source: AFP]
RCB may have won the IPL 2026 final, but Virat Kohli, their star batter, suffered a hamstring tear, and it affected his future with India. The legendary player was picked in the ODI squad against the Afghanistan side, but the injury ruled him out of the series as the BCCI sweats hard on his comeback.
With the 2027 World Cup in mind, the BCCI advised both Kohli, and Rohit Sharma to take part in all ODI series leading up to the marquee event, but the team now has to deliver the goods without their star player as Kohli could miss nearly 6 weeks of cricket.
The hamstring injury that ruined Kohli's plans
The IPL 2026 finale took place between RCB and GT, and the Shubman Gill-led Titans posted 155 on the board. In reply, RCB steered past the victory line, courtesy of a match-winning masterclass from Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 75 runs.
However, midway through his IPL final masterclass, Kohli felt discomfort as he sustained a hamstring tear. The RCB great was attended by the physio, and instead of walking off the field, Kohli continued to play, and that damaged his hamstring more.
He doesn’t require surgery, but the approximate healing time is 6 weeks as the 37-year-old has been ruled out of the Afghanistan ODIs.
Kohli suffers Distal Semimembranosus Tendon Tear
The RCB opener ignored the hamstring problem as he continued to play despite severe pain. As a result, the injury aggravated, and Kohli was ruled out of the Afghanistan series.
It was later revealed that the 37-year-old batter sustained a Distal Semimembranosus Tendon Tear. A distal semimembranosus tendon tear is a rupture of the lower hamstring tendon near the back of the knee.
Also Read: New Revelation On Virat Kohli's Injury
He might not need an operation, but Kohli’s participation due to this injury remains a touch-and-go for the England ODIs.
When will Kohli return in ODIs? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar answers
On Saturday, the BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and Secretary Devajit Saikia announced the T20I squads for the Ireland and England tour, but they delayed announcing the ODI squad for the England series.
One major reason for the delay in the announcement was Kohli’s injury, as there is no fixed timeline for his return. However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar broke the silence on his comeback.
"It's just less than a week since he injured himself in the IPL final. Don't know the timelines yet, looks like he might be fit for England ODIs. Not a definitive squad, don't have a timeline from the physio yet," said Agarkar in the presser.
BCCI delays announcing India ODI squad due to Kohli-Rohit injury status
Both Kohli and Rohit might be in the twilight of their careers, but they still hold utmost importance in the Indian ODI setup. The next World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with India playing most of its games in South Africa.
The conditions there will be bouncy and apart from Kohli and Rohit, not many have the experience of batting in tricky South African conditions. They have scored runs there and know the conditions on the back of their hands.
Hence, the management wants them in the World Cup squad, and they want the pair to play in most of the ODI matches till the World Cup to stay match-fit. As a result, the BCCI is awaiting the medical clearance before revealing the India squad for the England ODIs.
Also Read: India A Squad vs Sri Lanka Announced; Dhruv Jurel Named Captain
